Rounds blasts ballot measure
Posted: Friday, October 10, 2008
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- Gov. Mike Rounds said Thursday he opposes Initiated Measure 10 because the proposed law on the November ballot would interfere with the political rights of South Dakotans and would not accomplish its stated goal of open and clean government.
"My personal opinion is it would do a large amount of damage in our state," the governor said after talking about the ballot measure during a speech to the annual conference of the South Dakota Municipal League.
Initiated Measure 10 would restrict political donations by people with some government contracts and their relatives, ban lobbying with tax dollars, and require a state Web site to provide information on state contracts.
Opponents and supporters of the measure differ substantially in how they describe its effects.
Dena Espenscheid, a coordinator of the campaign committee promoting the measure, said it's no surprise the governor opposes the ballot measure because he vetoed a bill passed by the Legislature that would have put information on government contracts on the Internet.
Rounds and others also benefit from campaign contributions made by contractors, a practice the measure seeks to stop, she said.
"It's the governor who's been the recipient of tens of thousands of dollars of campaign contributions from holders of no-bid contractors, contractors who received tens of millions of dollars back," Espenscheid said.
But Rounds said the measure's promoters are mostly from outside the state, will not reveal the source of their campaign funding and are spreading misinformation.
He said the measure's loose definitions would prohibit many people from donating to political campaigns, prevent associations of local governments from getting their message to the Legislature efficiently and hamper charitable organizations.
The governor also noted that state government recently started an Internet site that provides financial information about state spending, tax receipts and contracts.
Rounds said the proposed law would prevent statewide associations representing local governments from having association officials testify on issues before the Legislature. City, county and school officials from across the state would have to drive to Pierre to talk to the Legislature because their association officials could not testify, he said.
He said that means the South Dakota Municipal League could no longer exist in the same form as it has for the past 75 years.
In addition, Initiated Measure 10 would prevent some organizations from getting funding if they ask for the financial help, Rounds said.
"If a group like a volunteer fire department, local chamber of commerce or the United Way appears before the city or county commission to ask for funding, which is lobbying, this measure would outlaw them from receiving any public funds," he said.
The proposed law also goes too far in banning political contributions by some who have no-bid government contracts, the governor said.
"Let's say you own a hardware store and a city employee comes to your store and buys a 25-cent bolt with city funds. According to this measure, you are now classified as holding a no-bid contract, a no-bid government contract," Rounds said. "You and your family would no longer be able to contribute to candidates of your choice."
The ban on contributions would apply not only to the store owners but also their spouses, children, parents, in-laws, brothers and sisters, grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews, he said.
"I think we should be doing more to encourage involvement in the political process, not discourage it," the governor said.
Furthermore, anyone who thinks an official has violated the measure's provisions could file a complaint with the state attorney general, who would have to divert the agency's attention from prosecuting serious crimes, Rounds said. If the attorney general did not react to a complaint within 15 days, the person filing the complaint could go directly to circuit court, he said.
"You'll have to draw your own conclusions," Rounds said, drawing laughter from those attending the Municipal League conference.
Espenscheid said she believes voters will be disappointed to learn that the South Dakota Municipal League used tax dollars a few years ago to lobby against a repeal of the sales tax on food, which she said hurts senior citizens and young families. Voters rejected the repeal in a statewide vote.
The National League of Cities, which is supported by dues from the South Dakota Municipal League, also has opposed gun rights and has supported the condemnation of private property to allow the use of land for development projects that will produce more tax revenue, Espenscheid said.
The governor said voters usually reject ballot measures that are unclear.
"We do a pretty good job of killing this stuff that's not very well thought-out," Rounds said.
"My personal opinion is it would do a large amount of damage in our state," the governor said after talking about the ballot measure during a speech to the annual conference of the South Dakota Municipal League.
Initiated Measure 10 would restrict political donations by people with some government contracts and their relatives, ban lobbying with tax dollars, and require a state Web site to provide information on state contracts.
Opponents and supporters of the measure differ substantially in how they describe its effects.
Dena Espenscheid, a coordinator of the campaign committee promoting the measure, said it's no surprise the governor opposes the ballot measure because he vetoed a bill passed by the Legislature that would have put information on government contracts on the Internet.
Rounds and others also benefit from campaign contributions made by contractors, a practice the measure seeks to stop, she said.
"It's the governor who's been the recipient of tens of thousands of dollars of campaign contributions from holders of no-bid contractors, contractors who received tens of millions of dollars back," Espenscheid said.
But Rounds said the measure's promoters are mostly from outside the state, will not reveal the source of their campaign funding and are spreading misinformation.
He said the measure's loose definitions would prohibit many people from donating to political campaigns, prevent associations of local governments from getting their message to the Legislature efficiently and hamper charitable organizations.
The governor also noted that state government recently started an Internet site that provides financial information about state spending, tax receipts and contracts.
Rounds said the proposed law would prevent statewide associations representing local governments from having association officials testify on issues before the Legislature. City, county and school officials from across the state would have to drive to Pierre to talk to the Legislature because their association officials could not testify, he said.
He said that means the South Dakota Municipal League could no longer exist in the same form as it has for the past 75 years.
In addition, Initiated Measure 10 would prevent some organizations from getting funding if they ask for the financial help, Rounds said.
"If a group like a volunteer fire department, local chamber of commerce or the United Way appears before the city or county commission to ask for funding, which is lobbying, this measure would outlaw them from receiving any public funds," he said.
The proposed law also goes too far in banning political contributions by some who have no-bid government contracts, the governor said.
"Let's say you own a hardware store and a city employee comes to your store and buys a 25-cent bolt with city funds. According to this measure, you are now classified as holding a no-bid contract, a no-bid government contract," Rounds said. "You and your family would no longer be able to contribute to candidates of your choice."
The ban on contributions would apply not only to the store owners but also their spouses, children, parents, in-laws, brothers and sisters, grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews, he said.
"I think we should be doing more to encourage involvement in the political process, not discourage it," the governor said.
Furthermore, anyone who thinks an official has violated the measure's provisions could file a complaint with the state attorney general, who would have to divert the agency's attention from prosecuting serious crimes, Rounds said. If the attorney general did not react to a complaint within 15 days, the person filing the complaint could go directly to circuit court, he said.
"You'll have to draw your own conclusions," Rounds said, drawing laughter from those attending the Municipal League conference.
Espenscheid said she believes voters will be disappointed to learn that the South Dakota Municipal League used tax dollars a few years ago to lobby against a repeal of the sales tax on food, which she said hurts senior citizens and young families. Voters rejected the repeal in a statewide vote.
The National League of Cities, which is supported by dues from the South Dakota Municipal League, also has opposed gun rights and has supported the condemnation of private property to allow the use of land for development projects that will produce more tax revenue, Espenscheid said.
The governor said voters usually reject ballot measures that are unclear.
"We do a pretty good job of killing this stuff that's not very well thought-out," Rounds said.
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